The Civil Rights Movement
by Darec Amescua
To what degree has the civil rights movement contributed to making the United States a more equal and just society?
In this flier there will be an article that discusses the tactics and strategies of the people and groups involved in the movement, photographs from the Civil Rights Movement and descriptions of what is happening in the photos. Also there will be a section where you can take a deeper look a couple heroes from the movement that aren't very famous. Then finally, you will read about a couple groups that were very important during the movement.
Featured Article
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an amazing leader. He was a firm believer in a non-violent resistance and having a strong relationship with God. This meant that the African Americans pursued their cause without fighting back physically. African Americans participated in sit-ins, boycotts, and marches. Even when they were faced with extremely violent situations and people, they would not fight back nor would they try to make the situation worse. This was a very key strategy in helping the Civil Right Movement go further.
Others, such as Malcolm X, believed that the African Americans should fight back. because of their beliefs, Malcolm X and King didn't get along well but both stayed with their beliefs. Malcolm X created an alternative for African Americans which was another key in helping move the Civil Rights Movement forward, and helping to create the equal and united country that we are today.
Little Rock Nine
Malcolm X
16th Street Baptist Church bombing victims
Unsung Heroes
Jimmie Lee Jackson was the deacon of his church in Marion, Alabama. Him and his family were not permitted to vote which angered him. His family went with a group during a night march. During the night march Jackson saw that his grandpa had been injured and tried to take him to a hospital but they were pushed into a cafe by state troopers. In the cafe Jackson saw his mother being beaten so he tried to help and was struck in the head with a club, pushed into a machine, then shot in the head. Jackson stumbled out of the cafe but died of his injuries. His killer was never publicly identified and no charges were ever brought up. Later, state legislature passed a resolution supporting the trooper's actions.
Important Groups
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was the largest and oldest of the civil rights groups. Their purpose was to support court cases intended to overturn segregation. Many martyrs of the civil rights movement were part of the NAACP like Medgar Evers and George Lee. The NAACP were successful in many cases such as Norris v. Alabama, Morgan v. Virginia, and Sweatt v. Painter.